HOAX Our Right to Hope – NHS Pioneering project – coming to Salford

On 30th April and 1st May, a pioneering NHS project called ‘HOAX Our Right to Hope’ will be visiting Salford.

This is an innovative project consisting of a trilogy of artworks telling the story of Rob, a young man who lived and died by suicide after living with Schizophrenia for many years.

‘HOAX Our Right to Hope’ brings arts, health and technology together to raise awareness around mental health and challenge mental health stigma whilst empoweringindividuals who have lived experience of mental health difficulties.

The stage production is a love story, where audiences watch as Rob meets Helen, they fall in love and live through his first experience with psychosis. Audiences will also take home a graphic novel following the next 10 years of Rob’s life and will be invited to interact with the “choose-your-own-journey” narrative app, containing more of Rob’s story in addition to housing an NHS Ethics approved study and recovery-focused information.

Written by Rob’s sister, multi-award winning writer Ravi Thornton, HOAX is touring the North of England in April and May, and will be arriving in Salford at The Lowry on 30th April and 1st May.

HOAX Our Right to Hope 2017 is a first-of-it’s-kind collaboration of Arts and Health, whereby the creators Ziggy’s Wish Engagement have partnered with the Psychosis Research Unit (Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust).

This groundbreaking trilogy is part-funded by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Programme, and is the first time cross-media artworks have been used as a conduit for quantitative research into stigma and perception around mental health.